How to Get More Results Out of Your Eye Ointments

 

When it comes to eye ointments, there's a lot of eye-rolling and eye-rubbing going on.

Everyone knows that eye ointments are used to treat eye infections such as pink eye (conjunctivitis) or styes (hordeolum). And everyone also knows that you apply eye ointment by gently applying the tip of the tube at the corner of your eye and slowly working toward the base of your nose. Then:   Eye-roll, eye-roll, eye-roll and eye rub!

But whatever you do - do NOT wipe off all that newly applied ointment after application! Experts say that wiping away all the excess medication is actually one way to get less efficacy out of eye ointments.

Dr. Elizabeth Kwik-Uribe, who is an assistant professor at the Brown University School of Medicine in Rhode Island, said that eye-rolling and eye-rubbing spread eye ointment over a wider area of your eye than just applying it to one part of your eye. She says that spreading the eye ointment over more than one spot helps ensure penetration into the correct location on your eye where infection or irritation may be lurking.

Dr Kwik-Uribe also said that if you wipe away all the excess medication after putting it on, you are depriving yourself of better coverage against harmful bacteria along with faster relief from symptoms for pink eye or styes.

For extra measure, experts also advise that eye ointments should be administered for the shortest amount of time rather than the longest. The longer you use eye ointment, experts say, the more likely eye ointments are to cause eye irritation or eye damage.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that eye ointments are usually prescribed for an average of one to three days depending on what your doctor thinks is best for you. But experts stress that even if your eye feels better after just a day or two, it's important not to stop applying eye ointment too early because doing so could allow bacteria from other parts of your body get into your eyes which can worsen infection.